Iranian province 'has more deaths from alcohol poisoning than virus'

Iran's is one of the world's worst-hit countriesImage caption: Iran's is one of the world's worst-hit countries

More people have now died in Iran's Fars province from alcohol poisoning while trying to protect themselves from the coronavirus than from the disease itself, Iranian media report.

Mohammad Javad Moradian, the director of the province's emergency services centre, told Isna news agency that Covid-19 had killed 13 people in Fars, while 66 have died after drinking industrial-strength alcohol.

A persistent rumour in Iran claims that drinking alcohol helps protect individuals from contracting the virus.

Iran has now confirmed 20,610 cases and 1,556 deaths from the disease.

Eustice: Retailers will decide limits on purchases

Asked if he can rule out state-backed rationing, Mr Eustice says all of the major retailers are working together and exercising their own judgement when it comes to placing item-limits on the number that can be purchased by shoppers.

He mentions toilet roll as an example of where a product is now subject to restrictions. Mr Eustice says he believes retailers are best-placed to consider such restrictions.

Eustice: £1bn of extra food bought in UK

Asked whether more pressure has been placed on supermarkets by the decision to ask pubs and bars to close, Mr Eustice says "there has already been a significant switch in the past three weeks to people switching to supermarkets".

He says the further step of closing public venues will help the NHS - he says that decision will only cause a small increase in demand.

He estimates that £1 billion of extra food has been brought into homes that has yet to be consumed.

Retail chief to appear at UK news conference

The chief executive of the British Retail Consortium - which represents many UK retailers - is to appear alongside the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary George Eustice at the UK daily news conference shortly, our political correspondent Nick Eardley reports.